Andy Burnham will pledge to be “unashamedly Labour” when he takes over as Labour Party leader from Sir Keir Starmer on Friday.
The newly elected Makerfield MP will be confirmed at a special conference in London at around midday, just days before he is set to become prime minister.
In a bold speech outlining his vision for the country, he will also promise to undo Margaret Thatcher’s economic legacy, warning that “Britain took a series of wrong turns in the 1980s” when “political power was centralised and economic power privatised”.
Mr Burnham was confirmed as Labour’s next leader this week after he secured the backing of 349 Labour MPs and trade unions linked to the party.
However, he will have to wait until Sir Keir formally recommends him to the King as his successor on Monday before he is coronated as prime minister.
Meanwhile, speculation is mounting over who Mr Burnham will choose to appoint to his Cabinet. Sources suggest Shabana Mahmood could be his pick for chancellor, but he has so far remained tight-lipped over his plans.
Key Points
- Andy Burnham expected to be crowned as Labour leader on Friday
- Burnham to promise to undo Thatcher’s economic legacy in first speech as Labour leader
- Who could Burnham pick for his chancellor and cabinet?
- Shabana Mahmood expected to be named as Burnham’s chancellor
- From Sadiq Khan to Leveson: Sir Keir Starmer’s honours list in full
Reform falsely claims Andy Burnham has not built any social housing in Manchester as mayor
00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA Reform mayoral candidate has falsely claimed that Andy Burnham has not built any social housing in Manchester during his nine years as mayor.
Sian Astley, who is standing in the race to be the next Greater Manchester to replace Mr Burnham who resigned to stand as an MP, told the Reform UK podcast on 6 July 2026: “I think there are over 20,000 households on the Manchester housing register, and they haven't built social housing for decades".
Podcast host, Ray Addison, responded, saying: "Obviously, he's been mayor of Greater Manchester for 10 years. One might have thought he'd have made a bit more progress with that."
But official government figures, analysed by The Independent, show thousands of social and affordable homes have been built across the region during Mr Burnham's tenure.
You can read more below:
Reform falsely claims Burnham has not built any social housing in Manchester as mayor
Streeting decries 'crying in lift' rumour as 'bizarre speculation'
23:20 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWes Streeting has dismissed rumours he was spotted “crying in a lift” near Andy Burnham’s Parliamentary office as “bizarre speculation”.
Mr Streeting, who resigned as health secretary after he said he had lost faith in Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, wrote on X: Of all the bizarre speculation I’ve read in recent days, this is the best.
“I wasn’t even present, let alone involved
“Hope my doppelgänger is ok though.”
Of all the bizarre speculation I’ve read in recent days, this is the best.
— Wes Streeting (@wesstreeting) July 16, 2026
I wasn’t even present, let alone involved 🤷🏻♂️
Hope my doppelgänger is ok though. https://t.co/Y1HqJqLldf
Comment: Britain is ready for the ‘Burnham bounce’… but will Andy put the brakes on it?
23:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAn economy that’s back in growth, sterling at a two-year high against the dolllar… Andy Burnham looks set to inherit a UK primed for growth. What could possibly go wrong, asks James Moore.
Britain is ready for the ‘Burnham bounce’… but will Andy put the brakes on it?
Burnham 'faces left-wing revolt' if Mahmood made Chancellor
22:51 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAndy Burnham is reportedly facing a “revolt” from the left of his party if he goes ahead with rumoured plans to make Shabana Mahmood his Chancellor.
According to The Times, Ms Mahmood is an unpopular choice on the left due to her hardline immigration reforms.
She has never held an economic position in government and has said relatively little about her views on economic policy in the past.
Burnham meets voters in Cardiff
22:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAndy Burnham has shared a video of himself out and about in Cardiff meeting voters ahead of his coronation as prime minister.
In the clip, he discusses his plans for social care, council housing, defence, hospitality, and education.
When I said I was going to do politics differently, I meant it.
— Andy Burnham (@andyburnham) July 16, 2026
Yesterday I spent a couple of hours in Cardiff city centre inviting people to ask me anything about my plans for the UK. pic.twitter.com/AsPKTN0cTG
What are Andy Burnham’s options to tackle the rising cost of living?
22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAndy Burnham is set to become Britain’s next prime minister on Monday, bringing with him a promise to make sweeping changes to the direction of the Labour government.
The former Manchester mayor has pledged to tackle the cost of living when he takes over, telling LBC earlier this month that the government needs to “be serious about putting more money back into people’s pockets.”
His comments come as the UK continues to grapple with rising costs for essentials like food and energy. Inflation held at 3 per cent in May in welcome news for households, but the situation in the Middle East has led to fears of more price shocks to come.
So what are Mr Burnham’s options to tackle the cost of living crisis? We take a look below:
What are Andy Burnham’s options to tackle the rising cost of living?
Burnham to promise to undo Thatcher’s economic legacy in first speech as Labour leader
21:44 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAndy Burnham will double down on his vow to unpick the economic settlement of Margaret Thatcher when he delivers his first speech as Labour leader on Friday.
The former mayor of Manchester will be confirmed as Sir Keir Starmer’s replacement unopposed at a special conference in London after he received nominations from almost all the MPs.
Addressing the party in his first speech as leader, Mr Burnham will make it clear that he wants to undo much of the Thatcherite economic settlement in the UK.
The new Labour leader will warn that “Britain took a series of wrong turns in the 1980s” when “political power was centralised and economic power privatised”.
To build an economy and a country that works for all people and places, Mr Burnham will say that it requires “a new path to the one we’ve been on for the last 40 years”.
You can read the full story from The Independent’s political editor David Maddox below:
Burnham to pledge to undo Thatcher’s economic legacy in first speech as Labour leader
‘King of the North’ Andy Burnham to become first PM for 50 years with seat in north-west England
21:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAndy Burnham will be the first prime minister for 50 years to represent a constituency in north-west England and only the third premier since 1900 to hold a seat in the region.
Mr Burnham became MP for Makerfield in Greater Manchester a few weeks ago, after winning a by-election on June 18.
He will be the first prime minister with a seat in the North West since Labour’s Harold Wilson, who was MP for Huyton in Merseyside throughout his two stints in Downing Street from 1964-70 and 1974-76.
You can read more below:
‘King of the North’ Burnham to become first PM for 50 years with seat in north-west
Burnham to set out vision to 'give back control' to communities in speech
21:08 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAndy Burnham is set to set out his plans to give communities “more control” over politics as he becomes Labour leader tomorrow.
The Makerfield MP will give the speech at a special conference in London days before he takes over from Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister.
He is expected to lay out a vision that builds on his promises for growth in every postcode and say his government can “lift Britain up” by putting people and places back at the heart of national decision-making. He will argue that “Britain took a series of wrong turns in the 1980s” when “political power was centralised and economic power privatised”.
Mr Burnham will also argue for a set of “distinctively Labour” economic reforms, including more public control, reindustrialisation and power back in the hands of local communities.
He will also pledge that the party, which has been wracked by infighting, will become more united, focused on practical solutions rather than internal division - and significantly, that it will be more open to working with other parties on the long-term challenges facing the country.
Watch: In The Room | Can Andy Burnham succeed where Keir Starmer failed?
21:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneEditorial: Shabana Mahmood can be one of the great modern chancellors
20:45 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Shabana Mahmood can be one of the great modern chancellors
What are Andy Burnham’s key policies?
20:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWith just a few days until Sir Keir Starmer officially leaves No 10, Andy Burnham is effectively prime minister in all but name.
The Makerfield MP is expected to take office on Monday, having secured the backing of over 300 Labour MPs.
His tenure in No 10 has been highly anticipated for many months, with his path to Downing Street having been without obstacles since his by-election win last month.
During his campaign trail and since returning to parliament, the prime-minister-in-waiting has delivered a number of speeches laying out his policy intentions.
You can read some of his key policies below:
What are Andy Burnham’s key policies?
Andy Burnham to undertake 'tour of UK' during summer
20:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIncoming prime minister is expected to undertake a summer “tour of the UK” as he seeks to change voter’s perceptions of Labour after he takes power.
Mr Burnham will will travel across the country on a “listening tour” in August while Parliament is in recess, according to the BBC.
It reports several Welsh Labour MPs have said that they understand Burnham intends to visit Port Talbot, once home to the UK's largest steelworks which has seen 2,800 job losses through its green steel transformation.
Comment: If Andy Burnham has chosen Shabana Mahmood as chancellor, he’s not an idiot after all
20:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWith reports indicating the home secretary is set to become Britain’s next chancellor, John Rentoul breathes a sigh of relief – and not just because it won’t be Ed Miliband.
If Andy Burnham has chosen Shabana Mahmood as chancellor, he’s not an idiot after all
Starmer says he believes Labour can win next election under Burnham
19:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer has said he believes Labour can win the next general election under Andy Burnham as he prepares to transfer power on Monday.
Speaking during his final few days in office, he told Sky News that he believes he has “built the foundation” for a Labour win.
“We’ve built the foundation for this now,” he said. “And Labour can go on and win that election, I think will go on and win that election.
“I’m proud to hand over the party in good shape to Andy Burnham, and hand over the country in good shape to Andy Burnham. I will support him all the way.”
He added he did not agree with his former top aide Morgan McSweeney that his team did not prepare enough for coming into government.
Former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney told the BBC earlier this month that he thought Labour “didn’t prepare enough for what kind of world we were going to be in”, ahead of the 2024 general election.
Sadiq Khan to be made a Lord by outgoing prime minister
19:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Sadiq Khan is to be given a peerage for his work as London mayor by outgoing prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.
A government source said: “Sadiq has been a brilliant mayor who has transformed London for the better, so this is thoroughly deserved.
“He has cut violent crime to record lows, cleaned up the capital’s air, delivered the Elizabeth Line, and got London building council homes again.”
The Independent’s Whitehall editor Kate Devlin has this story:
Keir Starmer honours list: Sadiq Khan to be made a Lord by outgoing prime minister
Who could Burnham pick for his chancellor and cabinet?
19:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWhen Andy Burnham names his cabinet, it will be one role more than any other that will shape his government – his pick as chancellor. David Maddox and Millie Cooke take a look at the contenders.
Frontrunners for Burnham’s cabinet revealed as next prime minister picks his top team
Lord Speaker warns Burnham overhaul of upper chamber could ‘blow fuse’
19:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Lord Speaker has warned Andy Burnham that overhauling the House of Lords risks “blowing a constitutional fuse”.
Mr Burnham, who is set to take over as Labour leader on Friday and as prime minister on Monday, has long argued for reform of the unelected chamber.
He last month said that “half of our national legislature being unelected” was “quite scandalous” and that he would not “rule out quite an early change”.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester has previously backed turning the chamber into an elected senate of regions and nations, and is reportedly considering plans to appoint metro mayors to the red benches as a first step towards a more representative body.
But Lord Forsyth of Drumlean said talk about “rewiring our constitutional arrangements” should be approached with caution as he defended the value of peers’ work.
In a speech to the Hansard Society on Thursday, he will say: “Any electrician would tell you, if you get your wires crossed, you may be in for a nasty shock.
“The House of Lords is a kind of constitutional trip-switch, forcing a reset on bad laws which have not been properly considered by the elected House.
“Anyone advocating rewiring politics needs to consider very carefully, will their new system keep the lights on or will it blow a constitutional fuse?”
From Sadiq Khan to Leveson: Sir Keir Starmer’s honours list in full
18:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Sadiq Khan is to be made a peer along with 25 other new members of the House of Lords as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to leave office.
The Labour London Mayor will take his seat on the red benches with former cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald and Sir Brian Leveson, a retired senior judge.
They appeared on a list of names issued by Downing Street to which No 10 said the King has been “graciously pleased to signify his intention of conferring peerages”.
You can read the full list below:
From Sadiq Khan to Leveson: Sir Keir Starmer’s honours list in full
IMF urges Andy Burnham to avoid public spending hikes
18:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAn influential global organisation is urging Andy Burnham’s incoming government to avoid increasing public spending in the face of pressures such as rising household energy bills.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) published a new report on the UK as Mr Burnham prepares to take the reins as the country’s new prime minister.
The Washington-based fund, which has around 190 member countries, said the Government should try to stay focused on its plans to grow the economy and stabilise debts in a more volatile world prone to shocks.
“This calls for a cautious approach to new fiscal pressures: the authorities should be very selective in accommodating new demands and reprioritise, while sticking to the deficit reduction plan,” the report read.
“Future spending reviews should focus on reallocating resources across departments, rather than increasing total spending.”
In particular, it urged the government’s response to the Iran war energy shock to remain “tightly targeted, temporary and budget-neutral”.
Badenoch says Burnham must back oil and gas drilling
18:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIncoming prime minister Andy Burnham should back increased drilling for oil and gas “if he has any common sense”, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said.
She claimed the former Manchester mayor, who is due to move into Downing Street on Monday, could raise billions of cash for public services by opening up more developments in the North Sea.
Mrs Badenoch added that Sir Keir Starmer could still be PM if he had “overruled” his Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, on the issue and given the go-ahead to new oil and gas fields.
She spoke out on the issue as she returned to Aberdeen – where the Tories last month won a Westminster by-election.
The party captured the Aberdeen South seat that had previously been held by former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn – who now sits as an MSP at Holyrood – with Mrs Badenoch making several campaign visits to the area.
She said that by-election had been a “referendum on drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea” as she insisted: “If Andy Burnham has any common sense he will allow drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.”
In pictures: Outgoing Starmer visits Ukraine as one of final acts as PM
18:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Burnham declines to rule out wealth tax and promises to be ‘upfront’ with Trump
17:47 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAndy Burnham has declined to rule out introducing a wealth tax and suggested the government “might be having to ask for a little more” at some point to balance Britain’s books.
The incoming prime minister said he needed time to look at the state of the public finances before committing to policy changes but argued a “greater sense of fairness” was needed.
The Makerfield MP also indicated he would be willing to disagree with Donald Trump, promising to be “very upfront” while “respecting the office” as he faced questions about his approach to a strained transatlantic relationship.
On the prospect of a tax rise for the “super rich”, he told Gary Lineker for Goalhanger: “I’m not going to rule things out right now. I do believe we need a greater sense of fairness and people feeling that things are being done in the right way and a fair way.
“But at the same time, you know, I don’t want to sort of be perceived as somebody who’s coming in with grudges and agendas and, you know, going to just immediately find or demonise one group or create a new way of dividing people.”
Shabana Mahmood expected to be named as Burnham’s chancellor
17:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneShabana Mahmood is widely expected to be named as Andy Burnham’s chancellor after the prime-minister-in-waiting’s inner circle objected to his original choice, Ed Miliband, The Independent understands.
The home secretary has impressed many with her sure-footed handling of the immigration crisis and she is seen as a chancellor who will keep the markets calm when the new government takes over on Monday.
You can read more below:
Shabana Mahmood expected to be named as Burnham’s chancellor
New prime minister will not ‘change UK-Ukraine dynamic’, Keir Starmer vows
17:17 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe UK’s support for Ukraine “will not waver” and the prime ministerial transition will not “change that dynamic”, Sir Keir Starmer has said on his final visit to Kyiv while in office.
The outgoing prime minister met Volodymyr Zelensky in the Ukrainian capital on Thursday, just hours after a series of Russian strikes that killed two and injured six, including a teenager.
He also used the trip to pledge 300 million euros (£255 million) to help fund fighter jets to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences while supporting some 5,000 jobs in the UK.
Sir Keir’s visit comes on his final full day as Labour leader.
Andy Burnham will take over the party leadership at a special conference in London on Friday before entering Downing Street on Monday.
That handover of power would not change the relationship between the two nations, Sir Keir said at a press conference at Mr Zelensky’s official ceremonial residence.
He said: “The fact that there will be a new prime minister in the United Kingdom, in the days to come, doesn’t change that dynamic at all.
“The resolve of the United Kingdom remains the same, it will not waver.”
Who has backed Andy Burnham for the leadership?
17:01 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAndy Burnham has won the support of hundreds of MPs as well as several key Labour-affiliated unions needed to become the Labour Party leader.
He secured the backing of 349 Labour MPs earlier this week, meaning it is impossible for any other candidate to gain the 81 endorsements needed to challenge for the Labour leadership.
The TSSA transport union, Aslef, Community, GMB, Unison, Fire Brigades Union, Unite and shopworkers’ union Usdaw have also endorsed him.
Andy Burnham expected to be crowned as Labour leader on Friday
16:56 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAndy Burnham is expected to take over as Labour leader on Friday as he moves within touching distance of the premiership.
Provided nobody challenges him, he will be crowned as the party’s leader at a special conference in London at around midday.
There will then be a limbo period over the weekend when Sir Keir Starmer will remain as prime minister, but will no longer be Party leader.
Mr Burnham will then be coronated as prime minister on Monday.
